Birth (2022 South Korean Film)

Birth (Korean: 탄생; RR: Tansaeng) is a 2022 South Korean biographical drama film written and directed by Park Heung-Sik. The film chronicles the life and ministry of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, who is recognized as the first native Korean Catholic priest.

Promotional poster for the film Birth — Promotional artwork for the 2022 film Birth.

Plot

The narrative follows the early life of Kim Dae-Gun (portrayed by Yoon Si-Yoon), a young man from a devout Catholic family. After being baptized by a French missionary, he is selected to pursue theological studies. To fulfill his vocation as the first Korean-born priest, Kim travels to Macau alongside fellow students Choi Yang-Eub (Lee Ho-Won) and Choi Bang-Je (Lim Hyoun-Soo) to undergo rigorous training amidst the political and religious challenges of the 19th century.

Cast

The film features an extensive ensemble cast depicting historical figures associated with the early Korean Catholic Church.

Yoon Si-Yoon as Kim Dae-Gun
Ahn Sung-Ki as Yoo Jin-Gil
Kim Kang-Woo as Jung Ha-Sang
Lee Ho-Won as Choi Yang-Eub
Lim Hyoun-Soo as Choi Bang-Je
Yoon Kyung-Ho as Han Suk-Moon
Lee Moon-Sik as Jo Shin-Chul
Lee Kyoung-Young as Lee Eung-Sik
Shin Jung-Keun as Lim Chi-Hwa
Song Ji-Yeon as Jeu-Rin / Kim-Sun
Choi Moo-Sung as Kim Je-Joon
Baek Ji-Won as Go Ursula
Kang Ha-Kyung as Kim Bangjigeo
Nam Da-Reum as King Heon-Jong
Kim Kwang-Kyu as Lim Chi-Baek
Park Ji-Hoon as Lim Sung-Ryong
Cha Chung-Hwa as Kim A-Gi
Kang Mal-Geum as Kim Teresa
Robin Deiana as Priest Ribeuwa

Production and Release

The film was released in South Korea on November 30, 2022, with a runtime of 151 minutes. It is categorized as a drama based on true events, focusing on religious history.